Starting out with Aerodynamics?

[OsiriS^]

First off, sorry if this is the wrong forum but I wasn't sure where else to put it. Secondly, this will be just an interest because I've already applied to and chosen by university degree courses so I'm not considering a career in aerodynamics.

I want to start out with just understanding the concept of it. That's pretty much it really! It's one of those things where I look at a race car and think "Man! I'd love to know how they made that so sleek and aerodynamic" and I'm sure there's some mind-boggling maths/physics knowledge that goes into it and even though I know nothing about it - it intrigues me greatly :uhh:

I am a physics student so I don't think it'll be too difficult a concept for me to grasp and I feel my knowledge in physics will compliment this subject. Does anyone know any good books and/or websites where I can get started?

 

[brewnog]

Urrrrrm Frank M White - Fluid Mechanics (ISBN 0072281928) isn't a bad place to start!

 

[OsiriS^]

Urrrrrm Frank M White - Fluid Mechanics (ISBN 0072281928) isn't a bad place to start!

This one?

 

[FredGarvin]

Give this a quick once through. It will provide a bit of background and a taste of what is to come for you.

http://www.desktopaero.com/appliedaero/appliedaero.html

Here's another link that gets more involved without getting overwhelming (a good read).

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/short.html

 

[z-component]

If you like the combination of physics, engineering, and aerodynamics, you may want to consider a career in aeronautical engineering!

Check out these websites:
http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/aeronautics.html
http://www.science-engineering.net/aeronautical_engineering.htm

z-component

 

[LunchBox]

IMHO... the best book on aerodynamics... not just from an air vehicle perspective (as the title may imply). The first few chapters really cover the basics as good as any text I've ever seen. (And as an Aero Eng I've read PLENTY.)

Introduction to Flight
by John D. Anderson
ISBN: 007109282X

Cheers...

 

[enigma]

I'll second LunchBox's suggestion.

That book was used to teach my sophomore level intro to aerodynamics class and is very good at presenting the basics.

For a slightly more advanced look, I'll recommend "Fundamentals of Aerodynamics" by the same author.

 

[russ_watters]

I think that's the one I started with too -- probably still in my parents' basement somewhere. Great book.

 

[OsiriS^]

Great info lads.

Cheers :)